Isles of Capri Park Project Under Funding Deadline

On Thursday evening last week, an informational meeting was held to provide a status update on the Isles of Capri Playground and Bocce Ball Court Project. A small but vocal group of Isles of Capri residents met with a high-level delegation of Collier County staff members in a race against time to begin the long-awaited project before the end of the fiscal year, in order to ensure the project’s funding does not evaporate.

Leading the county staff was Deputy County Manager Dan Rodriguez, Director of Parks and Recreation Olema Edwards, newly appointed Assistant Director James Hanrahan and Dayne Atkinson, the department’s project manager, who will oversee the planned revitalization of the small neighborhood park located at the intersection of Capri Boulevard and Tahiti Street on Isles of Capri.

Also present were members of the Capri Community, Inc. organization and interested community members, including John Mueller, who is a member of a small community group that advocates for park and recreational activities, such as bocce ball.

Unfortunately, during the planning for the park’s revitalization and expansion onto the lot across the street, the department proceeded under the false premise they could utilize the vacant lot on the opposite side of Tahiti Street, in conjunction with existing park land, to improve the park.

Unfortunately, a prior county staff member erred regarding the existing zoning regulations, which required the halt on expanding the usage for the vacant lot. 

Time constraints did not allow the expansion conversation to occur, without jeopardizing plans for the revitalization of the existing park. Those plans involve a replacement of the aging playground equipment, repairs to the existing bocce court and a refresh of the grounds. Simply put, the project’s funding will be lost if the construction fails to begin before the end of the fiscal 2022-2023 year on September 30.

The disappointment within the room was palpable, as the majority of attendees did not want to see the entire project lost. However, they were relieved to hear from Deputy County Manager Dan Rodriguez and Director of Parks and Recreation Olema Edwards that they were prepared to meet the timeline to save the funding for work on the existing park, while still evaluating options for the vacant property.